Malachi 1

(Genesis 25:19–28; Romans 9:6–29)

1This is the burdenH4853 of the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 toH413 IsraelH3478 throughH3027 MalachiH4401:1

2“I have loved youH157,” saysH559 the LORDH3068.

But you askH559, “HowH4100 have You loved usH157?”

“Was notH3808 EsauH6215 Jacob’sH3290 brotherH251?” declaresH5002 the LORDH3068. “Yet JacobH3290 I have lovedH157, 3butH853 EsauH6215 I have hatedH8130,2 and I have madeH7760 his mountainsH2022 a wastelandH8077 and left his inheritanceH5159 to the desertH4057 jackalsH8568.3”

4ThoughH3588 EdomH123 may sayH559, “We have been devastatedH7567, but we will rebuildH7725H1129 the ruinsH2723,” this is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635 saysH559: “TheyH1992 may buildH1129, but IH589 will demolishH2040. They will be calledH7121 the LandH1366 of WickednessH7564, and a peopleH5971 with whomH834 the LORDH3068 is indignantH2194 foreverH5704H5769. 5You will see thisH7200 with your own eyesH5869, and you yourselvesH859 will sayH559, ‘The LORDH3068 is greatH1431—even beyondH5921 the bordersH1366 of IsraelH3478.’”

The Polluted Offerings

6“A sonH1121 honorsH3513 his fatherH1, and a servantH5650 his masterH113. But ifH518 IH589 am a fatherH1, whereH346 is My honorH3519? And ifH518 IH589 am a masterH113, whereH346 is your fear of MeH4172?” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635 to you priestsH3548 who despiseH959 My nameH8034.

“But you askH559, ‘HowH4100 have we despisedH959 Your nameH8034?’

7By presentingH5066 defiledH1351 foodH3899 onH5921 My altarH4196.

But you askH559, ‘HowH4100 have we defiled YouH13514?’

By saying thatH559 the tableH7979 of the LORDH3068 is contemptibleH959H1931.

8WhenH3588 you offerH5066 blind animalsH5787 for sacrificeH2076, is it notH369 wrongH7451? And whenH3588 you presentH5066 the lameH6455 and sickH2470 ones, is it notH369 wrongH7451? Try offering themH7126H4994 to your governorH6346! Would he be pleasedH7521 with you orH176 show you favorH5375H6440?” asksH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

9“But ask nowH6258 for God’sH410 favorH2470H4994H6440. Will He be graciousH2603? Since thisH2063 has comeH1961 from your handsH3027, will He show you favorH5375H6440?” asksH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

10“OhH4310, that oneH1571 of you would shutH5462 the temple doorsH1817, so that you would noH3808 longer kindleH215 uselessH2600 fires on My altarH4196! I take noH369 pleasureH2656 in you,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635, “and I will acceptH7521 noH3808 offeringH4503 from your handsH3027.

11ForH3588 My nameH8034 will be greatH1419 among the nationsH1471, from where the sun risesH4217 toH5704 where it setsH3996H8121. In everyH3605 placeH4725, incenseH6999 and pureH2889 offeringsH4503 will be presentedH5066 in My nameH8034, becauseH3588 My nameH8034 will be greatH1419 among the nationsH1471,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635. 12“But youH859 profaneH2490 itH853 when you sayH559, ‘The tableH7979 of the LordH136 isH1931 defiledH1351, and as for its fruitH5108, its foodH400 is contemptibleH959.’

13You also sayH559: ‘OhH2009, what a nuisanceH4100!’ And you turn up your nose atH5301 itH853,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635.

“You bringH935 offeringsH4503 that are stolenH1497, lameH6455, or sickH2470! Should I acceptH7521 theseH853 from your handsH3027?” asksH559 the LORDH3068.

14“But cursedH779 is the deceiverH5230 who hasH3426 an acceptable maleH2145 in his flockH5739 and vows to give itH5087, but sacrificesH2076 a defectiveH7843 animal to the LordH136. ForH3588 IH589 am a greatH1419 KingH4428,” saysH559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635, “and My nameH8034 is to be fearedH3372 among the nationsH1471.